"Bright white with sweet fragrance, Gardenias are often chosen for wedding bouquets. These flowers are associated with several meanings including purity, love and refinement, which makes them an appropriate choice for wedding occasions."

~

A SHRILL SQUEAL made both Tulip and Begonia jump. Turning their attention to the shop window, a woman stood there, pointing at the boquet at her hands. The woman had carmel brown hair, neatly gelled back into a low bun. She had on expensive clothes and light makeup. Her arms were filled shopping bags, two other women with her. The woman who screamed entered the shop, the ring of the bell signalling.

"Do you work here?" Her voice asked, her voice surprisingly soft.

"Yes Miss, how can I help?" Tulip smiled, handing the bouquet to Begonia.

"I have been searching for actual months for a boquet for my wedding." She said, her friends shyly trailing into the shop. The lady flashed her ring, the sparkling white glittering in the shop. "I think this is the one." She gushed, stepping around Tulip to marvel at the boquet Begonia held. The man awkwardly held it out to her, her eyed fixated on them. "How can I get these for my wedding?"

"That's easy, come with me and I can order you in, Miss." Tulip smiled sweetly. The lady turned to her, smiling brightly.

"Call me Angela." Her cheeks turned a soft pink, realising her outburst before coming into the shop. Tulip escorted the lady over to the counter. "So do you usually work here?"

"I am the owners daughter, this is my shop." Tulip smiled, looking back towards Begonia. Angela nodded, pretending she understood the flower business.

Begonia watched Tulip and Angela meet at the counter, out of earshot. The two women who were with Angela now giggled to themselves, looking at Begonia. Shrugging, he went back to pruning the flowers. The woman slowly inched their selves away from him, hoping to eavesdrop on Tulip and Angela.

~

BEGONIA was growing annoyed, the lady and her companions hadn't left the shop. He realised quickly that he had grown bored... never had one customer taken up so much of the time that he'd been there. He had nobody to talk to, he again realised, as he swept the fallen leaves and damp dirt.

His hands wrapped around the worn wood reminded him of spending time in prison. Mopping, sweeping, cleaning. It was what he and his fellow inmates did to pass the time. That and rugby.

"All done." Tulip cheered, jumping to stand beside him, the door bell ringing as the women left. Begonia felt a weight lift off his shoulders, he hadn't thought the lack of human communication would make him agitated. Grunting, Begonia gave her a nod as he hoisted a pot out the way. "I've been missing out, it has been forever since I had such a strong abled body helping out." Tulip giggled, trying to help him move the pot. She spread her legs and used her whole body to shimmy the pot. Begonia felt himself smiling, putting the broom down to help her lift the pot. "Thanks." She puffed, dusting her hands on her apron.

"No problem." Begonia nodded, picking up the broom to sweep again.

"I'm jealous of her." Tulip sighed. "That bouquet was on my wedding dream board." Begonia nearly dropped his broom. "Not in that way, just it was my favorite wedding inspired bouquets I made. That was one of my favorites."

"No wonder she liked it." Begonia offered. Tulip blushed ever so slightly, the grin on her face was of pure joy. She enjoyed it when he was being kind... and lately, so did Begonia.

For the rest of the day, the two worked in almost silence, only being broken when Begonia needed to know something, or Tulip had a job for him. It wasn't that the two didn't have anything to say, or didn't know what to say. Begonia felt comfortable walking around, lifting crates and collecting flowers. He somewhat liked it... He hated to admit it, but ever since he started working at Flower's Delight, it was like his whole world had flipped right side up. He was on his feet, happy, and really moving forward with his life.

Begonia's gaze wanderes over to the new flowers that were on display. They had been delivered earlier this morning. Tulip had mentioned how she was thinking of putting them on momentary display at the window. He looked over towards Tulip, who was on her knees in the isles filled with some of the nicest smelling flowers. He watched her trim Gardenia's and Jasmines, smiling as she lifted each one to her nose.

Smiling slightly, Begonia kept his head ducked as he lifted the crate up off the floor. Tulip's head snapping over to him as he walked past her, she twirled a branch of Jasmine's in her small, dirt caked hands. He didn't acknowledge her, instead placed the crate bellow the table at the window, for her to sort out later. It saved him having to stop doing something to move it there.

The crate hefted to the ground, thumping cool air into his face. Begonia's nose scrunched up at a bitter smell. Grazing his finger along the stem of one of the bright orange and yellow flowers. He felt something like sand fall off and onto his fingers. Rubbing his thumb and index finger together, Begonia looked at the white grains. Bringing it up to his nose, his face twisted.

"Tulip." He called, looking over at the shop owner. She was instantly on her feet and by his side. "This smells like salt." He said, watching her face fall. Gripping his hand in hers, she pulled his fingers up to her nose.

"Where was this?" She asked, her face pale. Begonia gestured to the milk crate filled with flowers. Tulip roughly sifted through the flowers, her actions frantic as she found more salt on the stems. "It's all over the batch." She stood up, running back to the counter. Begonia watched her, watching as she dusted her salt and dirt covered hands off on her apron. She picked up the store phone, turning back to him with panic in her eyes. She pointed at the flowers. "Keep them away from the other flowers." She said, biting her lip.

Begonia nodded, pushing the flowers against the wall, making sure he didn't get the salt on anything else.

"Yes Dad, the flowers Aster bought this morning - they're covered in salt." Tulip said into the phone, her voice shaking. She again turned to Begonia. "Close the shop."